Quick, healthy snacks for the kids this Summer

Longer, hotter days and sweltering nights, it’s not presumptuous to call it – Summer is here. I’m not sure about you but I honestly want to limit the amount of time I spend in the kitchen. As every busy, working parent can attest, Summer days are meant to be enjoyed outdoors as much as possible.

The kids will soon be in full-on holiday mode and this means that apart from keeping them entertained and out of your “mommy-do”, they will need to be fed, regularly. No one goes through the cupboard supplies faster than a child who is bored and hungry and they’ll eat just about anything they can get their hands on.

So, it’s your job to ensure that their holiday snacking doesn’t get out of control and try to limit the amount of unnecessary sugar and bad stuff they chomp on. Healthy food should always be on hand, especially with kids because you want them to eat a balanced diet to give them sufficient energy throughout the day.

Holiday mode activated

There’s a month before the little ones are home, use the end of November to get all your December grocery shopping done. Having store cupboard and fresh produce as staples will give you options when planning meals and snacks for the hungry monsters.

You don’t want to omit treats from their diets completely during the festive break but you will want to have healthier alternatives. Preparing their snacks at home may be the more cost-effective option as it gives you some control over the ingredients and you can stretch things further than shop bought.

This is one instance where quantity meets quality and homemade is also so much yummier. The holidays tend to get all moms into a frenzy to cook from scratch anyway. With a certain nostalgia in the air as Christmas approaches, whip out Gogo’s old recipe books and pull out these incredibly simple, healthy snacks that everyone, including the kids will love.

Get your snack on

Peanut butter and apple crunchies

A Handful of almonds or peanuts (if your child is allergic to peanuts avoid)

To enjoy, slice the apple according to your preference and slather each slice with a little peanut butter. Next sprinkle on the almonds or peanuts and munch away. It’s the perfect combination of crispy, chewy, sweet and crunchy.

Crustless mini quiches

You know those leftover chicken roasts you don’t know what to do with, those will come in handy.

3 eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder

Chives

Splash of milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Leftover roast chicken, ham or bacon

¼ diced red pepper

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cook-in spray. Whisk eggs, baking powder, milk, salt and pepper and chives. Ladle mixture into the muffin tins. Top with red pepper and chicken or toppings of your choice.

Into a preheated oven at 180 they go for about 25 minutes until they soufflé up. Enjoy straight out of the oven or at room temperature.

These can be made and stored in the fridge for a few days. You’re welcome.

Gourmet popcorn

Who doesn’t love a giant bowl of popcorn? Whether watching a movie or just chilling, it’s the perfect crunchy snack that everyone loves. If like my little boy, you have a kid who has a palette for the unusual it’s not always easy finding the flavour he enjoys instore. So, I happily pop him some corn at home and jazz it up as follows.

Freshly popped corn

50g butter (not margarine)

50g soft brown or Muscovado sugar

50ml fresh cream

½ teaspoon of salt

Melt butter and sugar in a non-stick pan and allow the mixture to bubble until the sugar is completely dissolved and turns into a syrup-like consistency. Drizzle in the cream and it turns from syrup into caramel sauce.

Spoon the salted caramel sauce over the popcorn and you should have about an hour of absolute bliss while they happily chomp away. Homemade caramel popcorn has fewer calories and no artificial colourants or flavourants as store bought. It’s a guilt-free treat.

Share your go to snacks for kids and help other parents find healthier alternatives this Summer. Tweet @KayaFM95dot using the hashtag #KayaOnline

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